Machine-tool table



Patented Feb. 19, 19:29.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.rosnrn B. nnm'mon, or MILWAUKEE, WISOONSIN, nssrenonyro mun! a TBECKER CORPORATION, or .WEST, ALLIS, wrscousm. i

MACHINE-TOOL TABLE.

This invention relates to a work supporting table and with particular reference to an improved form of a table suitable for machine tools.

A main object of the invention is to provide a work supporting table of maximum strength for the weight thereof whereby fric tion in the table slide is reduced to a minimum, and a substantial saving is made in material required.

Another purpose is to eliminate excessive wear of the table support, especially at the ends of the support, due to the overhang of heavy end portions of the table when traversed to its extreme positions.

Other objects will be apparent from the specification and claims. a

The invention consists in the particular arrangement and structure as herein illustrated, described and claimed and is to be tinderstood to include such modified constructions as may be equivalentto the structure claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference characters have been used through out for designating the same parts in each of the several views of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved work supporting table.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the table.

Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of the table with an upper portion of a support in which the table may travel.

Fig. a is a longitudinal section taken on line 4% of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

The work supporting table shown in the several views and sections consists of a top portion. 1, front and rear walls 9. and 3. bot tom portions 4 and 5, having guides or bearing portions 6 and 7 which are adapted to cooperate with complementary guide portioris of a support or saddle 17 in the usual manner, together with end walls 8 and 9, and a system of cross ribs 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 11, 12, 13 14 15*. 16 each extending from wall 2 to wall 3. The number and spacing of such ribs'may vary with the length and the requirements of strength and rigidity of various tables. As may be seen in Fig. 4, the top portion 1 is of a maximum thickness at a point approximately midway between the end walls 8 and 9 and gradually decreases to minimum thickness near the ends. The heights of the various ribs 10 to 16 and 11 to 16 change so that the combined height of the rib and top wall 1 is substantially uniform for all the ribs, whereby the front and rear walls are connected with maximum rigidity at all points. The rib height thus increases from the table center toward the table ends, but the rib thickness may be decreased toward the table ends so that a rib 10 in the center of the table has a minimum hei ht combined with maximum thickness while ribs 16 and 16, located near the ends of the table, show a maximum height with 1mmmum thickness.

A table as previously constructed with a top plate of substantially uniform cross section, if made strong enough at the section most strained when the table ispositioned to overhang its support, that is at its central section, will have an excess of material at every other section, and the weight of such excess material greatly. increasesthe friction and wear of the slides particularly tending to wear the supporting slides at the ends. In a table embodying the invention claimed herein the weight and consequent friction and wear is greatly reduced without sacrifice of useful strength or rigidity.

For clamping work pieces or holding fixtures to the top plate, the table is provided with T slots 1*, which for rigidity require a substantial thickness of the top plate material around the slot depression or space. Thus, although the ends of the table top plate, owing to the reduced end thickness, are normally of less thickness than is required for the de th of the T slots, additional metal is provide to give a substantially uniform thickness below and at the sides of the T slots as indicated at 1*, Fig. 5. Such is also the case with the end and side pockets or depressions 1. and 1", there being added material sufficient to provide rigidity around such pockets, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. a

It will be noted that in the description the terms top, front, rear, etc. have been used only for convenience and designate the rel: ative position of table portions, and such terms are not to be taken to limit the invention to tables in which the work supporting face is uppermost and in a horizontal lane. On the contrary the construction here 3 own may be used to advantage in any slidable machinetool table and is intended to be so used.

Having now illustrated and described a preferred form of the invention, I claim 1. In a machine tool, the combination of a saddle and a work table reciprocably guided thereby, said table comprising a top plate, front and rear walls integral therewith and integral bottom portions providing guides or bearings in said saddle; said top plate being of a thickness midway between its ends which is large in relation to the total thickness of said table and in relation to the thickness of said ends.

2. In a machine tool, the combination of a saddle and a work table reciprocably guided thereby, said table comprising a. top plate, front and rear walls integral therewith, and integral bottom portions providing guides cooperating with said saddle, said top plate being of relatively great thickness midway between its ends and tapering in thickness in each direction from said relatively thick portion to relatively thin portions at each of said ends.

3., In a machine tool, the combination of a saddle and a work table slidable thereon, said work table eoi'nprising a top plate having relatively great vertical thickness centrally between its ends and tapering to relatively thin end portions, front and rear walls integral'with said top wall, cross ribs spaced at intervals and integral with said top and front and rear walls, and bottom portions integrally joined to walls and cross ribs to form a slide cooperating with said saddle, diiierent of said cross ribs being of different vertical dimensions corresponding to the thickness of said top wall at the point where the cross rib is joined thereto, whereby corresponding bottom face portions oi the dillerent cross ribs are substantially equally distant from the top face of said top pl: -e,

4t. In a machine tool the combination of a saddle and a work table slidable thereon, said work table comprising a top wall having relative-l great vertical thickness centrally between i s ends and tapering to relatively thin end portions, l'ront and rear walls integral with said top wall, cross ribs spaced at intervals and integrally joined with each of said walls. and bottom portions integrally joined to the other portions to form a slide for guiding the movement of said table in said saddle, (jli-flj'i-n'ciit of said ribs being of dilierent dimensions in the direction of the a length of said top plate, such that ribs of relatively large dimension in the direction stated are joined with top plate portions of relatively great thickness and vice versa.

5, In a machine tool work table having bottom portions forming a. slide for reciprocation thereof, the combination of a top plate integral with said bottom portions and provided with a T slot in its upper face, said top plate having a vertical thickness centrally between its ends which is large relative to the vertical height of said T slot, said top plate thickness tapering to a relatively small end thickness, said top plate having integral strengthening portions adjacent its ends and formed to provide a substantial thickness of material around T slot portions adjacent thereto.

6. In a machine tool the combination of a saddle and a work table slidabl e thereon, said work table comprising a top plate having a T slot in its upper It cc and having relatively great vertical thickness at a point be tween its ends and tapering into relatively thin end portions, front and rear walls joined with said top wall, cross ribs spaced at intervals and oi" a form such that corresponding bot tom lace portions of dillerent ribs are substantially equally distant from the top face o'l said top plate, and bottom portions joined with said front and rear walls and ribs to provide a slide for guiding the movement of said table from said saddle; said top plate being provided with thickened portions adjacent its ends and adapted to increase the normal strength oi? said top plate at points adjacent end portions oi said T slot.

7. In a machine tool, the combination of a saddle and a work table slidable thereon, said work table comprising a top plate having a depression near one end thereof, said top plate being of vertical thickness centrally between its ends which is large relative to the depth of said depression and decreasing into relativelythin end portions, front and rear wt lls integral with said top wall, cross ribs integral with said walls and spaced at intervals of the length of said table, and bottom portions integral with said walls and ribs and terming a slide for guiding said table relative to said saddle, said top plate having integral strengthening portions adjacent said depression to provide. a substantial strength of the top plate in spite of material removed to form said depr ssion.

In witness whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

JOSEPH 15.1RitlITAGli.

Gil 

